Huawei hopes to overcome problems in US: executive

Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies (華為) said yesterday that it hoped to “solve the challenges and problems” it has in the US after Washington labeled it a security threat last year.

Chief executive officer Guo Ping (郭平) said the firm posed no risk to the US, which in October last year said it and another Chinese telecoms firm, ZTE Corp, should be barred from contracts and acquisitions, adding that it “cannot be trusted” to be free of influence from Beijing.

“Since we have never sold key equipment into the US networks, there is no possibility for Huawei to pose a security threat to the US,” Guo told a news conference.

“There has never been any incident on our products threatening the cyber-security of networks,” he said, adding that Huawei products are used in more than 140 countries.

“I believe one day we can potentially solve the challenges and problems in the US,” he said, adding that this could be achieved with “the spirit of sincerity, openness and transparency.”

The US’ distrust of Huawei stems from what is seen as an increasingly assertive China that is pouring money into building up its military and, US defense officials have warned, its ability to potentially use high-tech means to disrupt US communications or information systems.

Huawei, founded by a People’s Liberation Army veteran in 1987, has denied any ties with the Chinese government and called last year’s congressional report “an exercise in China-bashing.”